A WIDNES singer suffered chemical burns after drinking corrosive cleaning fluid just minutes before he was due to take the stage at a golden wedding celebration.

A WIDNES singer suffered chemical burns after drinking corrosive cleaning fluid just minutes before he was due to take the stage at a golden wedding celebration.

Singer Paul Hignett and his DJ uncle were setting up their equipment at a Masonic hall in Chester and ordered two drinks of blackcurrant from the bar. However, they were mistakenly served instead with identical-looking cleaning chemicals.

By the time they had spat out the caustic liquid they had already suffered mouth burns and blistering.

A spokesman for the club said the singer was released from the Countess of Chester Hospital later in the evening of Saturday, September 13, and his uncle was detained overnight for observation and released next day.

Paul said: 'There has been an incident, it was me and my uncle. He was in hospital overnight. He has still got blisters, I'm off work - I wouldn't recommend it.'

The incident meant the party had to go ahead without music and some guests said it had spoiled the couple's happy day.

A relative of the golden wedding couple who was there at the time said: 'It was a genuine accident. It was reported according to the correct procedure and the hall arranged for them to be transported to hospital.'

A spokesman for venue said: 'The directors of Freemasons Hall (Chester) Ltd advised that a DJ and singer engaged to entertain at a golden wedding celebration were obliged to attend the Countess of Chester Hospital as a result of being given drinks of diluted pipe cleaner rather than blackcurrant cordial which is of identical appearance.

'Although there have been a number of changes of bar personnel in recent weeks it is felt that the unfortunate circumstances under which the incident occurred could not have been foreseen and unreserved apologies were extended to all the parties concerned.

'It is believed that in neither instance was their health seriously threatened given the very small amount of the diluted solution ingested.

'Both accepted the profuse apologies of the management. None of the other 140 people attending functions that evening were affected.

'The Health and Safety Executive have been advised and additional controls have been introduced to ensure such an incident does not happen in the future.'

Chester City Council has confirmed that it is looking into the incident.

Roger Wastnedge, the authority's senior environmental health officer, said it was unclear whether the liquid was concentrated or diluted with water.

He said: 'We are aware of it. It has been reported to us and we will be investigating it.'